Tennis

Jannik Sinner Withdraws from Paris Olympics Due to TonsillitisItalian tennis star Jannik Sinner has announced his withdrawal from the upcoming Paris Olympics, citing tonsillitis as the reason. The 22-year-old, who was ranked as the top seed in both singles and doubles, expressed his disappointment at missing the Games, which he had identified as a major goal for the season.Sinner's withdrawal comes after a strong week of clay training, during which he began to feel unwell. A subsequent doctor's visit revealed tonsillitis, prompting medical advice against playing. "Missing the Games is a huge disappointment as it was one of my main goals for this season," Sinner wrote on social media. "I couldn't wait to have the honor of representing my country in this very important event."Sinner's absence from the Olympics will have a significant impact on the men's tennis field. Novak Djokovic, who had been seeded second, will now take over as the top seed, while Carlos Alcaraz moves up to No. 2. Daniil Medvedev, competing as a neutral athlete, jumps from No. 5 to No. 4, while top-ranked American Taylor Fritz is raised from No. 9 to No. 8.Sinner's last competitive outing was at Wimbledon, where he reached the quarterfinals before being eliminated by Medvedev. The Italian had been hoping to make his Olympic debut in Paris, but his health issues have unfortunately prevented him from doing so.

Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, is likely to miss the upcoming French Open at Roland Garros after withdrawing from this week's qualifying tournament. The Briton, currently ranked 212th in the world, was a third alternate for the main draw, but her name did not appear among the qualifiers listed on the Roland Garros website.Raducanu's withdrawal is a significant setback for the 21-year-old, who has struggled with injuries since her historic US Open triumph. She has not played a match since losing in the first round of the Madrid Open last month, where she admitted to feeling "mentally and emotionally exhausted."In a statement quoted by British media, Raducanu explained her decision to withdraw from the French Open: "It's important for me to keep laying on the foundations and I will use the time to do a healthy block before the grass and subsequent hard court seasons to give myself a chance to keep fit for the rest of the year."Raducanu's only appearance at Roland Garros came in 2022, when she lost in the second round to Aliaksandra Sasnovich. She was not awarded a wild card for this year's edition.The Briton's absence from the French Open is a blow to the tournament, which is one of the four Grand Slams. Raducanu's star power and recent success would have undoubtedly drawn attention to the event.However, Raducanu's decision to prioritize her long-term health and fitness is understandable. The grass court season, which includes Wimbledon, is just around the corner, and Raducanu will be eager to make an impact on her home turf.